Garbage can mounting



June 6, 1967 J. G. MEYERS 3,323,852

GARBAGE CAN MOUNT ING Filed Oct. 20, 1965 l- III- m "F155 f I I INVENTOR.

V4002 6. Maw/2a FIG 5 a 3,323,852 GARBAGE CAN MOUNTING Jacob G. Meyers, 3000 S. Highway 100, Minneapolis, Minn. 55416 Filed Oct. 20. 1965, Ser. No. 498,652 4 Claims. (Cl. 312-319) This invention relates to garbage can mountings. More particularly, it relates to apparatus or devices for supporting garbage cans and the like in a protected but readily accessible location so as to facilitate the placement of garbage within the garbage can when desired and support the same in a protected area at all times while garbage is not being placed therewithin.

The protection and the maintenance of garbage cans in an upright position is a constant problem to home owners. Dogs, racoons, rodents and other scavenging animals soon learn how to dislodge the cover of the conventional garbage can to gain access to its contents and, in so doing, frequently tip the can over and thereby spill and spread its contents over the surrounding area. Various protective structures to alleviate this situation have been devised, but very few, if any, are both practical and effective. It is the primary object of my invention to overcome these conditions with a simple and practical mounting which is both practical and effective and will at the same time be readily accessible with a minimum of effort on the part of the owner.

It is the general object of my invention to provide a novel and improved garbage can mounting which will normally enclose the garbage can but will swing the same to an exposed position upon the application of pressure to a foot pedal which is mounted upon the mounting for swinging movement about an axis.

Another object is to provide a novel and improved garbage can mounting which will normally enclose the garbage can, will swing the same to an exposed position through the application of pressure to a foot lever, will automatically swing from open to closed position when released and will be maintained in closed position by its own weight without need for weakening its basic construction.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention will more fully appear from the following description, made in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective View of a two-unit garbage can mounting embodying my invention and shown with the door of one of the units open and its garbage can exposed;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the back side of the front wall of the unit shown in FIG. 1 with the support for the right hand unit omitted and with the near side wall omitted and with the door closed;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the unit shown in FIG. 2, with the door and garbage can support swung to open position;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of the front wall, door, and garbage can support, with the rear wall of the housing removed; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary elevational view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

As shown in FIGURES 1-5, one embodiment of my invention includes a housing or cabinet 6 which is substantially closed and includes a top wall 7, side walls 8, 9, and 11, and may include a bottom wall (not shown), or in lieu thereof, the bottom may be left open and utilized in conjunction with a slab of concrete (not shown). As shown, the side wall 8 constitutes the front 7 United States Patent O ice wall and the side Wall 11 constitutes the rear wall. Wherever herein the term substantially closed is utilized in connection with the housing 6, it is intended to include a housing whether constructed with or without a bottom wall as described above. Formed in the front or side wall 8 is a pair of door openings 12, each of which is covered by one of a pair of door panels 13.

Each of the door panels 13 is mounted upon the housing 6 by means of a pair of vertically spaced inwardly extending ears 14 and 15 which are perforated adjacent their outer ends to mount therein a pivot rod 16. It will be noted that the ear 14 is longer than the ear 15 so that the pivot rod 16 extends upwardly away from the door panel and off vertical. The ears 14 and 15 are arranged so that the pivot rod 16 extends inwardly away from the door panel and the housing. It will be seen that the pivot rod 16 extends in a vertical plane extending substantially parallel to the side walls 9 and 10. A sleeve 17 is mounted upon the pivot rod 16 in encircling relation between the ears 14 and 15, and is slightly shorter in length than the distance between these ears. The sleeve 17 rotates relative to the pivot rod 16 and is also slidable vertically relative thereto.

A pair of vertically spaced mounting brackets 18 and 19 is fixedly secured to the sleeve 17, and supports the door panel 13 thereon. An anchor bar 29 is mounted on the housing and extend inwardly therefrom above and inwardly of the mounting bracket 19. A link 21 extends between the anchor bar 2; and the bracket 19 so that when the panel 13 is swung outwardly to open position, the sleeve 17 and the panel 13 is ulled upwardly along the plvot rod 15 from the position shown in FIG. 2 to the position shown in FIG. 3. As a consequence, when the panel 13 is released, the Weight thereof in combination with the effect of the link 21 connected to the bar 20 at its inwardly disposed location causes the panel 13 to swing to closed position.

Fixedly secured to the inner side of the door panel 13, as by welding, is a rectangular frame 22 to which is secured a horizontally extending U-shaped frame member 23 with a cross support 24 and diagonal strut 25. The U-shaped frame member 23 with its cross support 24 is adapted to receive and support thereon a garbage can G. It will be noted that the U-shaped member 23 is secured at each of its ends to frame 22 at a point adjacent the pivot rod 16, and at a point adjacent the outer portions of panel 13. The U-shaped member 23 is disposed at an elevation sufiicient to barely clear the lower edge of the opening 12.

Mounted on each of the side walls 9 and 19 is a foot pedal 26 carried by a shaft 27 which is pivotally mounted on its associated side wall and extends inwardly therefrom. A crank 23 is secured to the inner end of the shaft 27 and is connected by a rigid link 29 with an ear 30 that is fixedly secured to the U-shaped member 23.

When in use, a garbage can such as the garbage can G is disposed within the U-shaped member 23 and supported by the crOss support 24 and the rectangular frame 22. It will be understood, of course, that each of the panels 13 has a similar garbage can support ar'fixed thereto in the manner identical to that hereinbefore described. In use, the owner merely steps upon the foot pedal 26 which causes the same to be depressed and rotate the shaft 27, which in turn moves the upper end of the crank 28 toward the door panel 13 with the result that the link 29 forces the door panel 13 and the support 23 to swing outwardly with the garbage can G thereon. As this takes place, the link 21, which is anchored upon the anchor bar 29 and is connected at its opposite end to the bracket 19, draws the sleeve 17 and the panel 13 with its associated garbage can support upwardly since the anchor bar 29 is disposed inwardly of the panel, and thus the outward movement of the panel and the bracket 19 causes the entire assembly to move upwardly to the position shown in FIG. 3. When the door panel 13 is released, the weight of the panel and the garbage can and its support urges the sleeve bracket 19, with the link 21 resisting, to downward movement, and consequently the panel 13 is drawn into closed position as the sleeve 17 descends on the pivot rod 16, to the position shown in FIG. 2.

It will be noted thatwhen the door panels 13 are in closed position, the housing 6 completely encloses the garbage can G and the garbage can support 23. If the entire assembly is mounted upon a fiat concrete slab, rodents or other scavenging animals cannot gain access to the garbage can, and consequently tipping and scattering of the contents of the can is positively avoided. Moreover, it will be noted that the garbage can is readily accessible to the owner since the door can be opened and the garbage can can be swung outwardly by merely stepping upon the foot pedal 26.

From the above it can be seen that my garbage can mounting is simple in construction and utilization. It is preferable to manufacture the same out of metal, but even then it is not unduly expensive to construct. Moreover, it is long lasting and has a low maintenance cost. Since there are no springs involved or other mechanisms which will require periodic replacement, the maintenance of my garbage unit is at a minimum.

It will be understood, of course, that an upstanding hand lever (not shown) may be utilized to facilitate opening of the door panels 13 in lieu of the foot pedal 26 by securing such a lever to the shaft 27 for that purpose.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts without departing from the scope of this invention which consists of the matter shown and described herein and set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A garbage can mounting comprising a substantially closed housing of dimensions adequate to receive such a garbage can therewithin and having a vertically extending side wall with a door opening therein larger than such a can, a door panel swingably mounted for outward swinging movement about an upright axis and supported across said opening and closing the same and being swingable outwardly between open and closing positions with respect to said opening, means connected to said door panel for urging the same toward closed position when open, a garbage can support mounted on the inner and outer portions of said door panel relative to its axis of swing and supported thereby and constructed and arranged to extend inwardly from the lower end portions thereof so as to swing outwardly with said door panel from enclosed position to an exposed position relative to said housing, a foot pedal pivotally mounted upon one side of said housing adjacent said opening for pivotal movement relative thereto, a crank connected to said foot pedal for pivotal movement therewith, and rigid linkage connected to said crank and said door panel and cooperatively converting the pivotal movement of said crank into linear movement and constructed and arranged relative to said foot pedal and said door panel to cause said door panel and said support to swing outwardly upon pivotal movement of said foot pedal when the latter is depressed to swing said support outwardly from an enclosed position to an exposed position relative to said housing.

2. A garbage can mounting comprising a substantially closed housing of dimensions adequate to receive such a garbage can therewithin and having a vertically extending side wall with a door opening therein larger than such a can, an upright pivot rod mounted on said housing adjacent and along one side of said opening, a door panel swing-ably mounted upon said rod for outward swinging movement about the axis of said rod and supported across said opening and closing the same and being swingable outwardly between open and closing positions with respect to said opening, means connectedito said rod and said door panel for urging the same toward a closed position when open, a garbage can support mounted on said door panel and supported thereby and constructed and arranged to extend inwardly from the 10Wer end portions thereof so as to swing outwardly with said door panel from enclosed 'position to an exposed position relative to said housing, a foot pedal pivotally mounted upon one side of said housing adjacent said opening for pivotal movement relative thereto, a crank connected to said foot pedal for pivotal movement therewith, and rigid linkage connected to said crank and said door panel and cooperatively converting the pivotal movement of said crank into linear movementand constructed and arranged relative to said foot pedal and said door panel to cause said door panel and said support to swing outwardly upon pivotal movement of said foot pedal when the latter is depressed to swing said support outwardly from an enclosed position to an exposed position relative to said housing.

3. A garbage can mounting comprising a substantially closed housing of dimensions adequate to receive such a garbage can therewithin and having a vertically extending side wall with a door opening therein larger than such a can, an upright pivot rod mounted on said housing 'adjacent and along one side of said opening, said rod extending upwardly off-vertical and away from the opening-defining portions of said housing, a sleeve telescopically carried by said rod and being slidable vertically and rotatable thereon, a door panel mounted on said sleeve in supported relation across said opening and closing the same and being swingable outwardly about said rod with said sleeve between open and closed positions, linkage connected to said door panel and said housing and extending upwardly and inwardly from its point of connection with said door panel to its point of connection with said housing so as to cause said sleeve and said door panel to be elevated relative to said rod when said door panel is swung open outwardly, a garbage can support mounted on said door panel, and constructed and arranged to extend inwardly from lower end portions thereof so as to swing outwardly with said door panel from an enclosed position to an exposed position relative to said housing, a foot pedal pivotally mounted on said housing adjacent said door panel, a crank pivotally mounted within said housing and connected with the pivotal mounting of said foot pedal in driven relation for pivotal movement with said foot pedal toward said door panel when said foot pedal is depressed and rigid linkage connecting said crank to said door panel and moving said door panel to open position when said foot pedal is depressed.

4. A garbage can mounting comprising a substantially closed housing of dimensions adequate to receive such a garbage can therewithin and having a vertically extending side wall with a door opening therein larger than such a can, an upright pivot rod mounted on said housing adjacent and along one side of said opening, said rod extending upwardly off-vertical and away from the opening-defining portions of said housing, a sleeve telescopically carried by said rod and being slidable vertically and rotatable thereon, a door panel mounted on said sleeve in supported relation across said opening and closing the same and being swingable outwardly about said rod with said sleeve between open and closed positions, linkage connected to said door panel and said housing and extending upwardly and inwardly from its point of connection with said door panel to its point of connection with said housing so as to cause said sleeve and said door panel to be elevated relative to said rod when said door panel is swung open outwardly, a garbage can support mounted on said door panel and constructed and arranged to extend inwardly from lower end portions 5 6 thereof so as to swing outwardly with said door panel pedal into linear movement and thereby causing said from an enclosed position to an exposed position reladoor panel to swing about said rod. tive to said housing, a foot pedal pivotally mounted on one side of said housing adjacent said door panel for References Cited rotative movement about an axis extending generally 5 parallel to said door panel when the latter is in closed UNITED STATES PATENTS position, and force-converting and transmitting mech- 168,040 9/1875 McCormick 16-155 anism connected to said foot pedal and said door panel in 2,558,939 7/1951 Dombush 312308 X force-converting and transmitting relation and extending therebetween, said mechanism being constructed and JOHN PETO Prlmary Exammer' arranged to convert said rotative movement of said foot F. DOMOTOR, Assistant Examiner. 

2. A GARBAGE CAN MOUNTING COMPRISING A SUBSTANTIALLY CLOSED HOUSING OF DIMENSIONS ADEQUATE TO RECEIVE SUCH A GARBAGE CAN THEREWITHIN AND HAVING A VERTICALLY EXTENDING SIDE WALL WITH A DOOR OPENING THEREIN LARGER THAN SUCH A CAN, AN UPRIGHT PIVOT ROD MOUNTED ON SAID HOUSING ADJACENT AND ALONG ONE SIDE OF SAID OPENING, A DOOR PANEL SWINGABLY MOUNTED UPON SAID ROD AND SUPSWINGING MOVEMENT UPON SAID ROF FOR OUTWARD PORTED ACROSS SAID OPENING BETWEEN OPEN AND CLOSING POSIING SWINGABLE OUTWARDLY BETWEEN OPEN AND CLOSING POSITIONS WITH RESPECT TO SAID OPENING, MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID ROD AND SAID DOOR PANEL FOR URGIN THE SAME TOWARD A CLOSED POSITION WHEN OPEN, A GARBAGE CAN SUPPORT MOUNTED ON SAID DOOR PANEL AND SUPPORTED THEREBY AND CONSTRUCTED AND ARRANGED TO EXTEND INWARDLY FROM THE LOWER END PORTIONS THEREOF SO AS TO SWING OUTWARDLY WITH SAID DOOR PANEL FROM ENCLOSED POSITION TO AN EXPOSED POSITION RELATIVE TO SAID HOUSING, A FOOT PEDAL PIVOTALLY MOUNTED UPON ONE SIDE OF SAID HOUSING ADJACENT SAID OPENING FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENT RELATIVE THERETO, A CRANK CONNECTED TO SAID PEDAL FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENT THEREWITH, AND RIGID LINKAGE CONNECTED TO SAID CRANK AND SAID DOOR PANEL AND COOPERATIVELY CONVERTING THE PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF SAID CRANK INTO LINEAR MOVEMENT AND CONSTRUCTED AND ARRANGED RELATIVE TO SAID FOOT PEDAL AND SAID DOOR PANEL TO CAUSE SAID DOOR PANEL AND SAID SUPPORT TO SWING OUTWARDLY UPON PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF SAID FOOT PEDAL WHEN THE LATTER IS DEPRESSED TO SWING SAID SUPPORT OUTWARDLY FROM AN ENCLOSED POSITION TO AN EXPOSED POSITION RELATIVE TO SAID HOUSING. 